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〃An' pity 'tis； 'tis true；〃 added Stanton； with a shrug。
〃I can't think it is only affection that has made her appear ill
the last two or three days；〃 resumed Van Berg； musingly。 〃Her face
suggests trouble and suffering of some kind。〃
〃Touch of dyspepsia； like enough。 However； Sibley will be here in
a few minutes and he will cheer her up； never fear。 I'm disgusted
with her that she takes so to that fellow； for although no saint
myself； I can't stomach him。〃
At the mention of Sibley's name； Van Berg frowned； turned on his
heel and walked away。
〃If Stanton is right about that fellow's power over her；〃 he muttered；
〃I'll tear up the sketch I made this afternoon and never give her
another thought。〃
The moment Ida became conscious of Van Berg's observant eyes her
languor passed away。 She had scarcely glanced at him while at
dinner； but she had felt； by some subtle power of perception； that
he was furtively watching her； and she also felt there was more
of curiosity than kindliness in his regard。 With an instinct as
strong as that of self…preservation； she sought to hide her secret；
and when a few moments later the stage was driven to the door；
she was prepared to welcome the man she now detested； in order to
conceal her heart from the man she loved。
Van Berg； leaning against a pillar near； saw Mr。 Mayhew with his
sallow； listless face and lifeless tread mount the steps to greet
his wife and daughter； but； before he could take Ida's hand； Sibley；
in snowy linen and a coat from which the stains and dust of earth
seemed ever kept miraculously； brushed past him； and seizing the
daughter's hand； exclaimed：
〃You see I've kept my promise； and am here。〃 And then he whispered
in her ear： 〃By Jupiter； Miss Ida； you look like a houri just from
Paradise to…night。〃
Mr。 Mayhew paused a moment and looked from the forward youth to
his daughter's scarlet face； frowned heavily； and then gave her
and her mother a very cool greeting before passing on to his room。
Ida could not forbear stealing a look at Van Berg； and her face
grew pale again as she encountered his scornful glance。 Pride was
one of her predominant traits； and his manner touched it to the
quick。 She resolved to return him scorn for scorn； and to show him
that in spite of her heart that had turned against her and become
his ally； she could still be her old gay self。 Therefore she gave
Sibley back his badinage in kind； and in repartee that was bright
and sharp as well as reckless； she answered the compliments of
other gay young fellows who also gathered around her。
〃Did I not tell you Sibley would revive her？〃 Stanton remarked as
they went down to supper。 〃Such humdrum fellows as you and I are
not to the taste of one who has been brought up on a diet of cayenne
pepper and chocolate cream。〃
〃But what kind of blood does such a diet make？〃
〃Judge for yourself。 It looks well as it comes and goes in a pretty
face。〃
〃Look here； Stanton；〃 said Van Berg； pausing at the dining room
door； 〃there is that Sibley at our table。〃
〃Oh； certainly！ He claims to be Ida's friend； and you see that
Mrs。 Mayhew is very gracious to him。 He's rich； and will inherit
his father's business also； and my sagacious aunt inquires no
further。〃
〃Stanton； we both fee that he is not fit to sit at the same table
with Miss Burton。〃
〃You are right； Van；〃 Stanton replied with a deep flush； 〃but I can
do nothing without drawing attention to my relatives。 After all；
it is only a casual and transient association in a public place；
over which we have no control。 While she seems too near to him
there you know that heaven is as near to hell as they are to each
other。 For the sake of poor Mr。 Mayhew； if for no one else； let
the matter pass。〃
〃Very well； Stanton； but it must not happen so another week；〃 and
then the young men who had withdrawn into the hall…way entered；
but the expression of coldness and displeasure did not wholly pass
from their faces。
Chapter XXIII。 Jennie Burton's 〃Remedies。〃
Fortunately Mr。 Mayhew had been placed at the supper…table next
to Miss Burton； and Van Berg speedily became absorbed in watching
the impression made on each other by these two characters that were
so utterly diverse。 It needed but a glance to see that Mr。 Mayhew
was a heavy…hearted； broken…spirited man。 His shrunken inanimate
features； and slight； bent form； looked all the more dim and shadowy
in contrast with his stout； florid wife； who even in public scarcely
more than tolerated his presence。 This evening she devoted herself
to Sibley； who sat between her and her daughter。
Mr。 Mayhew seemed unusually depressed even for him； and began to
make a supper only in form。 Jennie Burton stole a few shy glances
at his sallow face； and seemed to find an attraction in it she could
not resist。 Two handsome lovers sat near her； but she evidently
forgot them wholly save when they addressed her； and she wooed the
elderly man at her side with consummate tact and grace。
At first he was unconscious of her presence。 She was but another
human atom； and of no more interest to him than the chair on which
she sat。 Mechanically he declined one or two things she passed to
him； and in an absent manner replied to the few casual remarks by
which she sought to engage him in conversation。 At last she said；
in a voice that was indescribably winning and sympathetic：
〃Mr。 Mayhew； your sultry week in town has wearied you。 Our country
air will do you good。〃
There was so much more in her tones than in her words that he
turned to look at her； and then； for the first time； became aware
that he was not sitting at the side of an ordinary； well…bred lady。
〃Country air is good as far as it goes；〃 he said slowly； scanning
her face as he spoke； 〃but it does not make much difference with
me。〃
〃There are other remedies；〃 she resumed in her low gentle tone；
〃which； like the air； are not exactly tangible； and yet are more
potent。〃
〃Indeed；〃 he said； the dawning interest deepening in his face；
〃what are they？〃
〃I do not mean to tell you；〃 she replied with a little piquant
nod and smile。 〃I've learned better than those people who have a
dozen infallible medicines at their tongues' end for every trouble
under heaven。 I never name my remedies； for if I did； people would
turn away in contempt for such commonplace simples。〃
〃I can guess one of them already；〃 he said with a pleased light
coming into his eyes。
〃So quickly； Mr。 Mayhew？ I doubt it。〃
〃Kindness；〃 he said； in a low tone。
〃Well；〃 she replied with a slight flush； 〃I can stoutly assert
that this remedy did me good when all the long…named drugs in the
'Materia Medica' could not have helped me。〃
He looked at her searchingly a moment； and then said in the same
low tone：
〃And so you are trying to apply your remedy to me？ It certainly
is very good of you。 Most people when they are cured； throw away
the medicine； forgetting how many others are sick。〃
〃Perhaps we can never exactly say we are cured in this life； but
I think we can all get better。〃
〃It depends a great deal upon the disease；〃 he replied； with a
shrug。
〃No； Mr。 Mayhew；〃 she said； and； although her tone was low； it
was almost passionate in its earnestness。 〃God forbid that there
should be a disease without a remedy。〃
He again looked at her with a peculiar expression； and then slowly
turned toward his wife and daughter。 Mrs。 Mayhew was too preoccupied
to heed him； and Sibley was just saying：
〃Miss Ida； I claim you for the first waltz this evening； and only
wish that it would last indefinitely。〃
〃Pardon me for saying it to one so young and hopeful as yourself；
Miss Burton；〃 Mr。 Mayhew resumed gloomily； 〃but that which both
God and good…sense forbid seems the thing most sure to take place
in this world。〃
Although so dissimilar； deep and sad experiences made them kin； and
Miss Burton found she must make an effort not to let their thoughts
color their words too darkly for the time and place。
〃I shall not let you destroy my faith in my old…fashioned simples；〃
she said in tones that were lighter than her meaning。 〃You must not
be sure that because you are so much my senior； all my complaints
have been merely children's troubles。 Appearances are often
misleading； you know。〃
〃Not in your case； I think； Miss Burton。 I have lost faith in
almost everything； and most of all in myself； but this unexpected
little talk has touched me deeper than you can know； and I cannot
help having faith in you。〃
〃I will believe it；〃 she said with a smile； 〃if you will give me
a little of your society before you go back to the city。〃
He looked at her with sudden suspicion。 〃Do you mean what you
say？〃
〃I do。〃
〃Why do you